I have been asked by several persons here whether Mr. Dillon Bell will come here and when, as there are many claims to adjust. The natives I am sorry to say claim a great deal of land they have no right to and I hardly know how the difficulties will be got over. I hear Bell is gone to Sydney, will any one be appointed in his place or not? I should feel obliged if you would write to Puru and the other natives at Oruru a simple request that they should leave Oruru, Tipene is anxious to go there at Puru's invitation, he hopes to elevate himself to a position of importance by going, he is a very ambitious young man and very likely to embroil himself with the other chiefs, and as by going there he would much strengthen those who feel a little sore at going it might lead to difficulties amongst them.

I shall have to go to the Bay and see the Licensing Meeting next week and will take the opportunity of reporting upon the land at Kerikeri whether likely to be required as a township that is if I can get there. You have not told me if it will be necessary to survey the two blocks at Wangaroa. Time is creeping on and I have not been able to do a day's field work for the last 6 weeks and will be 3 weeks more before I can hope to get out, however I will do my best, what I feel most uneasy at is that the Government
may think that I do not earn my salary, but I assure you, I am much harassed having so much to attend to frequently I might get out surveying for a day, if I had the men ready at hand, but the day is passed before I can get them together, if I do not go when I have instructed them to be ready they of course complain. Their lands afford them much trouble in this neighbourhood one party claiming from another and from the Government. They think they have only to claim and offer for sale, and all is right and that the Government will make as many payments as they like to ask for. We are all expecting Kemp --- there is lots of land awaiting for him to come up to buy. The natives are very anxious to sell. March 10th.

One of the young Campbells here just came in from Oruru and lodged a complaint against some natives for assaulting him and his servant, it is some row about pigs, the man was cut in the head with a stick. I am going out this morning to see about it. These Campbells are nice quiet people but determined and I cannot make out how the natives could have been so foolish.

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